Deposit return (DR) schemes on drinks containers have long been in place in certain EU Member States. Consumers are charged a deposit per container at the point of purchase, which they can later get back when they return the container after consuming its contents. Whilst such schemes are in the interests of the environment, at least historically before the age of mass-household recycling, it is debatable whether such schemes can be justified in the modern age, given the obvious problems that DR schemes pose to the EU's internal market as a restriction to cross-border trade and the free movement of goods. This article analyses DR schemes, accounting for recent developments at the Court of Justice of the European Union, before reflecting on what the future holds for DR schemes as a matter of EU law.

The evolution of intellectual property law within the EU legal framework has been substantial and rapid. Previously viewed as a potential exception to the free movement of goods which EU Member States could potentially use to counteract the scope of free movement law, intellectual property law is now seen in a new light in the modern era. A plethora of EU secondary law, and by extension, applying to the entire EEA, have aimed to harmonise elements of the internal market to establish intellectual property rights on a pan-EEA basis. The introduction of EEA law three decades ago, along with the adjudication of the EFTA Court in this area, has sparked a robust discussion about EU/EEA intellectual property law. Even though it may not have been on the terms it initially intended, the EFTA Court has made significant contributions to the field, covering areas such as trademark law, copyright law, and patent law.

This Research Handbook focuses on the internal market aspects of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) pillar of the European Economic Area (EEA). Leading academics, judges, and practitioners examine the EEA internal market in a structured and systematic manner. Throughout, they provide an in-depth analysis of the free movement and horizontal aspects of the EFTA pillar of the EEA.

Contributing authors in this Research Handbook firstly address the free movement of goods, persons (including workers and social security), services, establishment, capital and payments within the EFTA pillar. Secondly, they dissect the flanking policies that apply, including competition, state aid, banking, insurance, transport, intellectual property, consumer protection, and the environment. Third, the Research Handbook contains a number of critical reflections. Overall, it is a comprehensive examination based on EEA primary law, EEA secondary law, EFTA Surveillance Authority practice, and the EFTA Court’s case-law.

The Research Handbook on EEA Internal Market Law, providing authoritative and informative coverage, is essential reading for academics, judges, and students in all areas of European law across both the EU and EFTA pillars of the EEA. It is also a valuable resource for national and international civil servants, law firms, national courts, domestic policymakers, and private practitioners. 

Fisheries in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) are provided for in Articles 493 to 511 TCA. This chapter highlights the fact that the TCA, whilst providing for no tariffs and charges (fiscal measures) on fisheries products moving between the two jurisdictions, has reintroduced new non-tariff (non-fiscal) measures on such movements when private parties are engaging in the export of fisheries to each other’s jurisdiction. For some, the TCA is the cod’s pollocks: short-term predictability for the fisheries industry was maintained by the TCA by suspending any changes to fisheries arrangements through the insertion of an adjustment period, applying until at least 2026. For others, the TCA could be considered a damp squid, given that post-2026, annual and multiannual negotiations will be introduced, which can amend various fishing opportunities concerning fishing quotas, stocks, and access to waters. This chapter provides an outline of the main fisheries provisions of the TCA, which adds to the EU’s growing repertoire of international agreements regulating fisheries. 

Private Members' Bill (legislation) introduced in Seanad Éiereannn (Senate), Houses of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament).

An Act to require the National Transport Authority (NTA) to produce a report, to be delivered to the Minister of the Government with responsibility for a Department of State covering rail transport on the way in which the State may improve and strengthen rail passenger rights above and beyond the minimum requirements set down in EU secondary law, including Regulation 2021/782, with particular regard to delayed and cancelled railway services, including the modalities of rail passengers rights on the access to compensation for delays and cancellations; to require the NTA to periodically produce a report to be delivered to the Minister of the Government with responsibility for a Department of State covering rail transport on the implementation of the EU secondary law and national law on rail passenger rights; and to provide for related matters.